Meth, a drug that 'has no demographics'

They become paranoid, dangerously violent, depressed, hyper and have extremely high blood pressure - and they choose to be that way. They are methamphetamine users and their recreational habit is coming into neighborhoods across the Carolinas and Georgia.

"Right now we're dealing with a drug that has no demographics," said Michael Miller, director of the Anderson-Oconee Regional Forensics Laboratory. "It has no boundaries."

Now called the drug of choice by Upstate law enforcement officials, methamphetamine, or simply "meth," has put narcotics agents' efforts against marijuana and cocaine on the back burner. Although officials say they enforce the laws against all illegal substances, meth cases are multiplying.

"Meth is growing at a rapid rate," said Capt. Steven Jenkins, head of Oconee County's Narcotics Division. "About 60 to 65 percent of our drug cases are meth. Marijuana and cocaine and crack are still out there, but more and more it's meth that's going to the lab (Anderson-Oconee Regional Forensics Lab)."

The drug is ugly. It creates ugliness. Not only in looks, aging users by dozens of years, but also in character. When meth users are not high, they are paranoid, said Tim Morgan, Pickens County's assistant sheriff. Conflicts with family members become more intense and often violent.

"You're dealing with a (person) who is essentially a ticking time bomb," Mr. Miller said.

Capt. Jenkins said most people on meth are extremely paranoid.

"They have an everybody's-out-to-get-me attitude," he said. "It's a stimulus and people on meth stay awake days at a time. When they're crashing they can be talking one minute then asleep the next. It's particularly dangerous when someone is driving."

Meth is a synthetic drug produced or sold as pills, capsules, or powder that can be smoked, snorted, injected or swallowed, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. It's made of household materials, such as paint thinner, drain cleaner and cold tablets.

Mr. Miller said local law enforcement agencies have arrested a wide range of ages of people who are using meth- even someone as young as 12.

Meth causes increased heart rate and blood pressure - and can cause irreversible damage to blood vessels in the brain, resulting in strokes. Other effects of meth include respiratory problems, irregular heartbeat and extreme anorexia. Its use can also result in cardiovascular collapse and death, according to the institute.

Mr. Morgan said because meth can be manufactured from chemicals and items sold in retail and hardware stores, it's difficult to stop the drug at the source. Plus the source is changing in response to law enforcement efforts to clamp down on local labs.

"We're seeing an influx from the Atlanta area where it is being distributed after coming into the country from clandestine labs out of the country," he said.

Meth production here is taking place in hotel rooms, businesses, vehicles, apartments and houses.

"This drug is so easy to manufacture," Mr. Miller said. "It doesn't require a lot of space or a lot of equipment, so they (labs) are popping up everywhere."

Sgt. Jeff Rohletter, a narcotics and vice investigator for 13 years in Oconee County, said meth labs have been found in neighborhood homes, rural trailers, motel rooms and even the trunks of cars.

"Eventually, we'll probably find one in a boat," Sgt. Rohletter said.

Meth users compound the ongoing battle because of crimes they commit in order to support their habit.

"It affects the entire family," Mr. Morgan said. "If one user is the breadwinner, everyone suffers. You see parents trying to help their children and it takes an emotional toll on the family and their friends."

There are about 14 people at the Anderson County Sheriff's Office who are actively involved with curbing meth use and production. The narcotics and Aggressive Criminal Enforcement teams at the sheriff's office deal with the drug on a regular basis.

"It's an ongoing problem," Anderson County Sheriff David Crenshaw said. "We need more people working it, but have to operate within our budget."

He said meth users appear to focus solely on getting more of the drug. He said they will do almost anything to buy more meth, obtain more money to buy meth or to buy products used to produce meth.

Prostitution is often used as a way to support a meth habit, but the sheriff said so far he hasn't noticed an increase in Anderson County.

Lt. Michael Bracone of the Anderson Police Department said more and more people are being picked up on meth-related charges.

"I think it's really starting to pick up in this area," he said. "Once they've taken the drug once, they crave more of it."

Mr. Morgan said Pickens County is seeing a rise in other crimes committed by meth users trying to support their habit.

"A lot of the problems we have are drug related where a user is stealing to support a $200-a-day habit," Mr. Morgan said. "They are stealing anything that is not tied down. They forge checks and they do stupid things because they are high."

Capt. Jenkins said 80 to 90 percent of thefts in Oconee County could be attributed to drug use.

In Oconee County, narcotics cases involving marijuana, cocaine, crack cocaine and prescription drugs have remained constant for the past three years while methamphetamine cases have increased from 29 cases in 2003 to 100 in 2004 and 90 last year.

In Pickens County, possession of methamphetamine went from 37 cases in 2004 to 64 last year - and trafficking cases went from 13 to 89.

Mr. Miller said people who use the drug treat it like a currency- something that can be traded. He said meth use causes an increase in all drug-related crimes, such as burglary, theft, assault and criminal domestic violence, because of the nature of the drug itself.

"It's increasing the population in the jail," Sheriff Crenshaw said.

Even though addressing the growing meth problem isn't the only problem the Sheriff's Office faces, Sheriff Crenshaw said it's serious.

"I hope we're putting a dent in it," he said. "We're going to stay after them."